Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-12
that today our national treasury is o vast
bullion bank.
The vermont state Grange to the Gov


TO His ErceHency the Hon. y. j. Ormsbee,
Governor ~ Vermont;
The undersigned, Master of the Vermont
State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, re-
specially submits that this organization
was formed and is conducted for the fur
therance Of the best interests of the farm
ing class and of all the people of the
state, and therefore has deep and abiding
interest in all that pertains TO the welfare
OF the farmer and people at large IL is
well known that farm property is declining
in value, and that the business of farming
is one that yields small profits to those
therein engaged, and that in consequence
thereof large numbers Of the most active
and energetic people Of the state leave its
limits and seek homes and occupation else
where, thereby reducing the population of
the rural districts and diminishing in "A
large degree the productive capacity OF the
commonwealth.
The members of the grange believe that
this state of things has been largely caused
by unreasonable and discriminating rates
of freight over the RAILWAYS of the state.
and that much higher rates have been
charged to the people Of Vermont than TO
those Of other states and foreign countries
They believe that these high and unreason
able rates have largely hindered the devel-
opment of manufactures in the state. The
main and almost the only argument ad-
vanced by Henry Clay and Horace Greeley
why farmers should favor high protective
tariff was that thereby manufactures would
be established, and home market for farm
products created. We claim that high and
oppressive rates Of freight have prevented
manufacturers from coming into this state,
and that, when we seek the markets of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and other
manufacturing states, we find farm prod
ucts from the far western states set down
in these markets at lower rates than we are
compelled TO pay hence we are heavily
taxed by n high tariff, without the com
pensating benefits that are derived by 9th
err states. 1t il claimed that Canadian farm
products are prevented by the tariff from
competing with us ON equal terms, but the
schedules Of rates Of the Boston and Low
ell and the Central Vermont railroads show
that 10y the edict of corporate power, the
laws of the United States are virtually an
nulled by reducing the freight rates to and
from Canada, so that Canadian farmers
can pay the United States duties, and still
ship their products 10 our seaboard markets
at lower rate than can Vermont farmers.
y
the legislature of the state as has been 30
successfully done in many other states Of
the Union. A law creating a state railway
commission was passed at the late session
of the legislature, but that measure has
proved utterly inadequate TO remedy the
evils Of which we complain.
Under this state OF things the passage Of
the interstate commerce law by Congress
was hailed with great satisfaction as the be-
ginning OF such governmental control as
should place Vermont more nearly upon am
equality with other states, but we find by
the publication Of pleadings in the case Of
the Boston and Albany railroad VS.. Boston
and Lowell, Central Vermont and other
railroads, set down for hearing at Rutland
ON the first of September next, that the
provisions of the interstate commerce law
forbidding larger rate for IA short than for
long haul, are disregarded, and that Yer
mont people are still being charged higher
rates Of freight than those Of Canada.
Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, in viola
ton and defiance Of the laws Of the land
The interstate commission has publicly
invited the suffering people Of this state 10
be present at the hearing above named and
present their grievances As an organiza-
ton the grange has no friends. Its indi-
vldual members are men of small means.
There is no time to solicit and collect funds
from other sources, and they therefore, in
pursuance Of the aims and purposes Of their
organization, respectfully ask your excel
cy 10 exercise the discretion granted YOU
in section liS Of the Revised Laws, and as
sign as counsel, ON behalf Of the state, to as
sist the grange in this case, the Hon. Kit
tredge Haskins of Brattleboro, or such 9th
er person or persons AS you shall deem best
1t is the belief Of many Of the best cti-
zens of Vermont that no occasion OF equal
Importance to the welfare Of the people Of
the state has ever arisen, nor one where
''the protection of the rights of the state"
more imperatively demanded executive EN-
| ployment of counsel
Very respectfully yours,
A. MEssER,
Master Vermont State Grange.